“Through collaboration, Aiken County First Steps empowers families and caregivers to prepare their children for school success by maximizing public and private community resources to deliver, enhance and expand high-quality early childhood services.”
The years of early childhood are a critical window of development during which much of human potential is shaped.
INCREASE THE REACH OF FIRST STEPS SERVICES
INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY FIRST STEPS
MORE CHILDREN ARRIVE AT KINDERGARTEN READY FOR SUCCESS
Families are the single most important influence on the development of their young children. The work of supporting families and caregivers is a collaborative effort between state and local stakeholders within the public, private and faith sectors.
EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED BY AIKEN COUNTY FIRST STEPS. ENSURE THAT HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS WILL BE ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE, AND AFFORDABLE FOR AIKEN COUNTY FAMILIES. SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEIR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS. .
Street, City SC 00000 | 000-000-0000 | website OR scfirststeps.org/county
105 Gator Lane , Aiken SC 29801 | 803-306-1343 | scfirststeps.org/Aiken
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MARCIA L. NASH, M.ED. Executive Director Aiken County First Steps
You never really know the true impact you have on those around you. You never know how much someone needed that smile you gave them. You never know how much your kindness turned someone's entire life around. You never know how much someone needed that long hug or deep talk. So don’t wait to be kind. Don’t wait for someone else to be kind first. Don’t wait for better circumstances or for someone to change. Just be kind, because you never know how much someone needs it. Impact
Marcia L. Nash
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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
DR. CHARLENE MOORE-PETERSON Chair Aiken County First Steps Board of Trustees
Aiken County First Steps continues to work within the scope of our Comprehensive Plan, despite the adversities seen over the last year. We envision every Aiken County child being prepared for school success and with the support of our partners, we still see it as a future. As we continue to increase the reach and availability of high quality early care and education opportunities in Aiken County, our children and families will reap the benefits as they continue to maintain their true purpose in spite of difficulty, discouragement or obstacles.
Dr. Charlene-Moore-Peterson
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Every Aiken County child will be prepared for success in school.
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PAT GOES VIRTUAL
Due to COVID-19, Parents as Teachers (PAT) National provided guidance for affiliates to deliver virtual services via interactive video conferencing and phone calls. South Carolina PAT affiliates rose to the occasion by engaging families in creative and meaningful ways while continuing to meet the Essential Requirements of implementing a quality PAT program during the pandemic.
PAT IN AIKEN COUNTY 2020-2021
20 523
families served
total home visits
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3352 7236 Books are 100% free to children in Aiken County because Aiken County First Steps secures the funds to cover the cost of books and shipping fees.
Sponsor a child for just $25 a year.
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4
20
230
The information gained from the First Steps classroom assessments, based on ITERS-3 and ECERS-3, provided valuable guidance for improvements that needed to be made. We are thankful to Aiken County First Steps for their support and for ordering materials that were needed to help improve our scores in multiple areas. PAIGE LEOPARD, AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT/FREEDMAN EARLY LEARNING CENTER 10
Little Feelings Matter Too One Book, A ll Month, Infinite Possibilities Bloodborne Pathogens Professionalis m in Child Care W orking with Parents: From Parents to Partners Introductio n to ITE RS-3 Introductio n to E CE RS-3 Using Redirection to E nforce Limits Let's Play
169
Routines, Rituals & Traditions Budgets, Financial Reports & Internal Controls Peace & Calm for Prov iders and Children Foundation s of Guidance Childhood Illness, Medication, and Poison Recruitmen t & Retention of Staff Biting Toilet Learning Motiv ating Staff
169
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For many families in Aiken County, the cost of quality childcare has b een a b urden. Our scholarship p rog ram makes p ayments to childcare p roviders who care for children from low-income families so that p arents can return to school or work.
Aiken County First Step s offers scholarship s to families enrolled in our Parents as T eachers p rog ram, as well as income-elig ib le children whose p arents attend school or works for at least 2 0 hours p er week.
SCHOLARSHIPS BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
50
number of children served
4
number of providers served
27
number of developmental screenings provided
100% the money paid to childcare providers goes back into our local economy to benefit the citizens of Aiken County.
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FIRST STEPS 4K IN AIKEN COUNTY 2020-2021
138 12
PREPARING FOR STATEWIDE EXPANSION With First Steps 4K, families are in the driver’s seat. They choose the program that best meets their needs. Families can enroll their child in any of the 244 private, nonprofit, or faith-based child care centers or schools participating in the program. The majority of First Steps 4K providers offer 8-hour day and year-round instruction, including summers, which is at no cost to parents.
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EARLY HEAD START
Early Head Start Homebased (EHS-HB) is a federally funded program that provides family-centered services to infants and toddlers under age 3, pregnant women, and their families.
EARLY HEAD START BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
6
child care providers served
12
number of TA visits provided
In November 2020, Aiken County First Steps received the contract from the Aiken County Public School District to provide EHS-HB comprehensive services to 13 children and families.
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Addressing the needs of young children is a shared endeavor. I n addition to p roviding services to families and sup p ort for child care p roviders, Aiken County First Step s mob ilizes p artners and community memb ers to ensure all children in Aiken County b eg in school ready to succeed. W e serve as a:
1,057 children
248 families
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T hroug h p artnership s and collab or a ti ons , as well as financial sup p ort from g rants and contrib uti ons , Aiken County First Step s leverag es state dollars to enhance and exp and services to children and families.
FUNDING SUPPORT South Carolina First Step s:$ 4 2 5 ,1 2 7 Aiken County First Step s Board:$ 5 2 5 Aiken County First Step s Staff: $ 5 0 SC Endeavors: $ 2 ,0 0 0 Donor: Mrs. L inda W ehrli: $ 1 0 0 Anonymous Donor: $ 3 0 0
IN-KIND SUPPORT Aiken County Pub lic School District United W ay of Aiken County Aiken County First Step s Board
JOIN US For more informati on on p artnership op p ortunities, visit our web site at www.s cfirs ts teps .or g /a i ke n co u nty c o u nty
1 0 5 G a tor La ne
(8 0 3 )-3 0 6 -1 3 4 3
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Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type 7%
Since inception, Aiken County First Steps has leveraged $2,993,884.63 from sources outside of state government. That’s $0.32 for every state dollar.
93%
State Funding
Federal Funding
Private Funding
In-Kind Contributions
Total
Parents as Teachers
$78,958
$0
$0
$33,775
$112,733
Child Care Quality Enhancement
$37,940
$0
$0
$11,700
$49,640
Child Care Training
$27,034
$0
$0
$3,400
$30,434
Scholarship Initiatives
$120,584
$0
$0
$4,200
$124,784
Imagination Library
$9,995
$0
$2,505
$15,000
$27,500
Countdown to Kindergarten
$19,293
$0
$0
$1,812
$21,105
Early Head Start
$0
$23,997
$0
$10,000
$33,997
Core Functions
$30,331
$1,466
$0
$3,700
$35,497
Administrative Functions
$24,651
$0
$0
$2,000
$26,651
$348,786
$25,463
$2,505
$85,587
$462,341
Total Expenses
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Natrice Brighthop-Carpenter Marie Davisohn Brandi Betties Tracy Brown Shadie Hall Dorothy Hughes Tamisha Lawrence
Paige Leopard Teresa Lilly Dr. Charlene Moore-Peterson Shirley Von Beck David Walker Gail Diggs Theodore Burnett
STAFF Marcia L . Nash, Executive Director Barb ara Sanders, Parents as T eachers Parent Educator/ Sup er v is or Jakovi a Raiford, Administrative Assistant-I ntern Janice Martinez , Child Care T echnical Assistant Provider Melissa Sullivan, EHS Home Visitor
CONTACT US 1 0 5 G a tor La ne | (8 0 3 )-3 0 6 -1 3 4 3 | www.s cfirs ts t eps .o r g /a i ke n c o u n ty
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EVERY CHILD READY! 19